RONALD LEONARD, one of the most prominent cellists in the U.S., has had a long and distinguished career. Upon graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Leonard Rose, Leonard was one of the youngest musicians to be accepted by George Szell as a member of the Cleveland Orchestra. After two years in Cleveland, Leonard accepted the position of principal cellist of the Rochester Philharmonic and a position on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music. During his tenure in Rochester, he taught and performed at various music festivals, including Aspen, Marlboro, and Sarasota; performed in the Vermeer Quartet; and became principal cellist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he remained for 25 years. While with the LA Phil, he taught at the USC Thornton School of Music and held the post of the Gregor Piatigorsky Endowed Chair in Violoncello until joining the faculty of the Colburn Conservatory in the cello and chamber music departments. Leonard has been guest artist with many leading quartets, including Guarneri, American, Borromeo, Juilliard, Mendelssohn, and Chilingarian. He performs regularly as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician.